Shoulder strap dress hook



April 1935' M. H. KEILHAMER ET AL 1,998,160

SHOULDER STRAP DRESS HOOK Filed July 3, 1933 F 1g. E. /??15 gwnwnto'os Jfz'chael H if? 2' [12am er Mary E ifz'lhamer Patented Apr. 16, 1935 R Michael H. Keilhamer and Mary E. Keilhamer, Anacortes, Wash.

Application July 3, 1933, Serial No. 678,902

2 Claims.

Our invention relates to shoulder strap dress hooks and certain objects of the invention are to provide a device of this character comprising a thin metal spring plate portion adapted to be secured to the underside of the shoulder portion of a dress, and also comprising a long smooth depending tongue portion disposed close to the spring plate and directed toward the neck opening of the dress and adapted to retain the shoulder strap of the under garment in place and prevent same from slipping down over the shoulder of the wearer or from being exposed to view. Further objects are to provide a shoulder strap dress hook of minimum bulk, which will not rub or blemish the skin of the wearer, which will retain undergarment shoulder straps of different widths in place, which permits easy insertion and removal of shoulder straps, and which may be manufactured at comparatively small cost.

With the above and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of the novel construction, adaptation, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed. These objects are accomplished by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawing; wherein: Figure l is a view in elevation showing the spring plate portion of the device connected to the underside of the shoulder portion of a dress and the shoulder strap of an undergarment caught on its tongue portion; Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view in elevation showing the same; and Fig. 3 is a detail view in bottom plan of the device.

Referring in detail to the drawing throughout which like reference numerals indicate like parts, the numeral 5 designates the shoulderportion of a dress and the muneral 6 designates the shoulder strap of an undergarment. Specifically the invention comprises a thin fiat spring m'etal plate portion 7 which is contracted and bent upon itself at 8 to form a comparatively long tongue portion 9. Said tongue is preferably, though not necessarily, round in cross section and is considerably thicker than the thin plate portion. This tongue portion extends back upon the thin plate a greater part of the length thereof and is spaced therefrom leaving a long opening It! therebetween wherein the under garment shoulder strap 6 is retained as hereinafter more fully set forth. The end portion of said tongue normally touches, or nearly touches, the plate portion at H and its extreme end is beveled or otherwise deflected away from the plate portion at I2 so that the under garment shoulder strap may be readily inserted therein as will be understood. Two pairs of holes l3 and M respectively are provided through the plate portion whereby the device may be stitched to the shoulder portion of a dress.

The device is secured to the shoulder portion 5 of a dress by placing the plate portion 7 against the underside of said dress shoulder portion with the tongue 9 in a depending position and always directed inwardly or pointing toward the neck opening or collar of a dress, it being understood that two of the devices are used for each dress and one is secured to each shoulder thereof. After said plate portion is properly positioned several stitches are taken with a needle and thread through one pair of holes and several like stitches is taken through the other pair of holes thus securing the device to the dress. It is important that the two pair of holes 13 shall be somewhat removed from the end I2 of the tongue so that the stitches will not obstruct or interfere with H as the spring member instead of the tongue 5 are that said tongue member may be made heavier whereby it will remain in a somewhat fixed relative position for inserting the under garment shoulder strap, and same may also be rounded and shaped in such manner that it will not rub or blemish the skin of the wearer. Said tongue is disposed close to the plate I in order to reduce the bulk of the device to a minimum, and is made long so that under garment shoulder straps 01 different widths may be held in the opening ill. When inserting the shoulder straps in said opening the finger or thumb nail may be used for slightly prying the tongue and spring plate apart if necessary. When caught between said plate and tongue an under garment shoulder strap will be securely held and prevented from slipping down over the shoulder of the wearer or from slipping from under the shoulder dress portion 4 and being exposed to view. The devices may, of course, be used on dresses with or without sleeves and are made of metal which does not tarnish.

Having thus described our invention, it being understood that minor changes may be resorted The objects in making the plate portion 'I serve O to in its design and construction without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:-

1. A shoulder strap dress hook comprising a thin metal spring plate portion, a long inflexible tongue portion that is somewhat thicker than the plate in cross section extending substantially parallel with the plate and forming an opening therewith, the end portion of the tongue substantially touching the plate, the end of said tongue beveled and curved away from the plate and said tongue integrally connected to the metal spring plate.

2. A shoulder strap dress hook comprising a thin spring plate portion, a thick inflexible tongue portion extending substantially parallel with the plate along the greater length thereof with its end portion approximately touching the plate and falling short of the free end of said plate, and fastening means at the outer and central portlons of the spring plate whereby they are removed from the end of the tongue and whereby the portion of the plate between the central fastening means and the tongue is free to function as a spring and said tongue portion integrally connected to the thin spring plate.

MICHAEL H. KEILHAMER. MARY E. KEILHAMER. 

